# Green Splashed Incised Bowl with A Lioness

- By: Islamic (Northwestern Iran)
- Date: Seljuq period (1037–1194), 12th-13th century
- Medium: Garrus ware, earthenware with incised decoration over white slip and splashes of green under transparent glaze
- Classification: Ceramics
- Dimensions: 16.1 × 38.1 cm (6 5/16 × 15 in.)
- Culture: Northwestern Iran
- Credit line: Kate S. Buckingham Fund
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/79563)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/9e7058f5-2f7d-545e-9d5a-206c9a06fd3b/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Little Ones profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

This bowl belongs to a group of ceramics from 12th and 13th-century Iran known as Garrus ware. The name Garrus refers to a district in northwest Iran where these ceramics were excavated. Although these wares were found in Garrus, their exact origin of production is unknown. However, as with many modern-day appellations, these ceramics continue to be referred to as Garrus ware. The wares are united by a distinctive decorative technique: the decorative elements are incised on the surface of the object and set against slip backgrounds that are removed to showcase their central motifs against darker areas of color. On this bowl, a lioness has been incised on the interior with scrolling floral motifs showcased against an exposed dark red background.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0